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In U.P., plans to save the Taj Mahal
Why it is in news?
- The Supreme Court’s critical observation on the preservation of the Taj Mahal has redirected focus on the deterioration of the iconic Mughal monument.
- While multiple agencies are responsible for preventing pollution in and around the Taj and its preservation, the Uttar Pradesh government in July submitted a draft of its Vision Document in the court to outline its plan for the monument.
What does it say?
- Compiled by the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, the 240-page document makes a number of recommendations to protect the Taj precinct, Agra city and the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
- Encompassing an area of 10,400 sq km, the restricted region of the TTZ includes five districts of Uttar Pradesh — Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Hatras and Etah — and one in Rajasthan — Bharatpur.
- For example, the draft suggests that the entire precinct be declared a no-plastic zone, including the use of bottled water; no untreated sewage discharge be allowed throughout the stretch of the Yamuna; closure of polluting industries in the region and promotion of alternative industries with incentives, and a ban on construction on the Yamuna Flood Plains.
What are the challenges?
- Apart from the natural deterioration of the monument, the Taj has over the years faced an onslaught by pollutants, including that from vehicles and industries.
- In the recent past, activists have complained that the white marble structure was developing greenish-black patches on several parts as a result of the release of faeces and dirt by an insect identified as Geoldichironomus (Chironomus calligraphus).
- The activists attributed it to the rising pollution in the Yamuna.
- In May 2016, the then Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav, ordered a probe into the discolouring.
- To offset the discolouring, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has periodically been giving the monument a mud-treatment using fuller’s earth.
- The mud is applied to the monument and left to dry for 24 hours; thereafter, it is washed out.
- The herbal earth absorbs all the impurities absorbed by the marble from the atmosphere.
- Activists termed it eyewash and criticised the government and other agencies for not being serious about preserving the monument.
- While no issues are faced in the structural conservation of the Taj, the chemical cleaning faces hurdles created by the high footfall.
- The Taj remains closed only on Friday, and the ASI has adapted methods such as area segregation and tourist diversion to ensure the cleaning goes smoothly.
Source
The Hindu